Strawberry plant named ‘VALOR’

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named ‘VALOR’. This new strawberry plant named ‘VALOR’ is primarily adapted to the growing conditions of the central coast of California, and is primarily characterized by its medium plant size; medium to large fruit; red to dark red fruit color; strong fruit skin firmness; medium to dark green foliage; good fruit flavor; medium sized foliage and short fruiting trusses.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Fragariaananassa.

Variety denomination: ‘VALOR’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry varietynamed ‘VALOR’. This new variety is a result of a controlled cross madein 2001 in an ongoing breeding program between strawberry varietydesignated ‘PS-1269’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,686) and theunpatented strawberry breeding line designated ‘PS-3003’. It is unknownas to which strawberry parent is the seed parent and which strawberryparent is the pollen parent. The variety is botanically known asFragaria ananassa.

The seedling resulting from the aforementioned cross was selected from acontrolled breeding plot in Ventura County, Calif. in the fall of 2003.After its selection, the new variety was asexually propagated by stolonsin a nursery located in San Joaquin County, Calif. The new variety wasextensively tested over the next several years in Ventura County, Calif.This propagation has demonstrated that the combination of traitsdisclosed herein as characterizing the new variety are fixed and remaintrue to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘VALOR’ is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions ofthe central coast of California. The nearby Pacific Ocean provides theneeded humidity and moderate temperatures to produce a strong vigorousplant and maintain fruit quality during the fall production months.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe unique characteristics of ‘VALOR’, which in combination distinguishthis strawberry plant as a new and distinct variety:

-   -   1. Medium plant size;    -   2. Medium to large fruit size;    -   3. Red to dark red fruit color;    -   4. Strong fruit skin firmness;    -   5. Medium to dark green foliage color;    -   6. Good fruit flavor;    -   7. Medium sized foliage; and    -   8. Short fruiting trusses.

The new strawberry variety ‘VALOR’ differs from the parental strawberryvarieties ‘PS-1269’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,686) and theunpatented strawberry breeding line ‘PS-3003’, by the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Type of bearing: ‘VALOR’ is everbearing while ‘PS-1269’ is        partial everbearing and ‘PS-3003’ is everbearing;    -   2. Firmness of the skin: ‘VALOR’ is strong while ‘PS-1269’ is        medium and ‘PS-3003’ is strong;    -   3. Fruit color: ‘VALOR’ is red to dark red while ‘PS-1269’ is        red and ‘PS-3003’ is orange red to red; and    -   4. Plant vigor: ‘VALOR’ is medium while ‘PS-1269’ is medium to        large and ‘PS-3003’ is medium.

The strawberry variety that is believed to be most closely related tothe new strawberry variety ‘VALOR’ is ‘PS-2880’ (patented, U.S. PlantPat. No. 15,597). In comparison to the similar strawberry variety‘PS-2880’, the new strawberry variety ‘VALOR’ differs by the followingcombination of characteristics as described in Table 1:

TABLE 1 ‘PS-2880’ (U.S. Plant Characteristic ‘VALOR’ Pat. No. 15,597) 1.Average fruit 23.3 20.7 weight (gm) 2. Marketable yield 566 457 (gm/plt)3. Unevenness of fruit Weak Medium to surface strong 4. Insertion ofachenes Level with to Above the below the surface surface 5. Attitude ofcalyx Spreading Spreading to reflexed 6. Firmness of the skin StrongMedium 7. Plant size Medium Medium to large 8. Average number of stolonsMedium Few 9. Foliage color (upper Medium to Light to surface) darkgreen medium green 10. Interveinal leaf blistering Medium Medium tostrong 11. Foliage size Medium Medium to large 12. Fruiting truss length20.5 27.1 (cm)

For identification a series of AFLP molecular markers have beendetermined for this new variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance oftypical specimens of the new strawberry variety ‘VALOR’, at variousstages of development as true as it is reasonably possible with colorreproductions of this type. Color in the photographs may differ slightlyfrom the color value cited in the botanical description which accuratelydescribe the color of ‘VALOR’. The depicted plant and plant parts of thenew strawberry variety ‘VALOR’ were taken in Ventura County, Calif., andare approximately 3 to 4 months old.

FIG. 1 shows typical fruiting field characteristics of ‘VALOR’ taken inthe month of October 2007.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of a typical leaf structure of ‘VALOR’taken in the month of November 2007.

FIG. 3 shows typical mature and immature field fruit of ‘VALOR’ taken inthe month of October 2007.

FIG. 4 shows a close-up view of mature fruit of ‘VALOR’ taken in themonth of October 2007.

FIG. 5 shows typical internal and external mature fruit characteristicsof ‘VALOR’ taken in the month of October 2007.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

‘VALOR’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The characteristics of the new variety may vary in detail,depending upon variations in environmental factors, including weather(temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type andlocation.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following descriptionof the new variety ‘VALOR’, unless otherwise noted, is based onobservations taken during the 2007 growing season in Ventura County,Calif. These measurements and ratings were taken from plants of ‘VALOR’dug from a low-elevation nursery located in San Joaquin County, Calif.,during late January 2007 and planted approximately 6 months later inVentura County, Calif. The approximate age of the observed plants is 3to 4 months. Yield observations and fruit quality characteristics areaveraged from four years of data collected from the 2004 through 2007growing seasons. Flower measurements and characteristics are fromsecondary flowers unless otherwise noted. Fruit characteristics andmeasurements are from secondary fruit unless otherwise noted.

Color terminology where noted follows the Munsell Book of Colors,Munsell Color, Baltimore, Md. (1976).

The following tables 2–8 describe fruit, plant, stolon, foliage,fruiting truss, flower and pest disease characteristics of the newstrawberry ‘VALOR’ in comparison to the similar strawberry variety‘PS-2880’ (patented, U.S Plant Pat. No. 15,597).

TABLE 2 FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS ‘PS-2880’ (U.S. Plant Characteristic‘VALOR’ Pat. No. 15,597) Color of mature 7.5R 3/8 to 4/10 7.5R 4/8 to3/8 fruit Red to dark red Red Color of internal 7.5R 3/12 to 4/12 7.5R3/12 to 4/12 flesh Red to dark red Red to dark red Color of fruit 7.5R4/10 to 4/12 7.5R 4/12 to 5/12 core Red Red Length (cm) 4.3 4.7 Width(cm) 3.8 3.6 Ratio length/ 1.13 1.29 width Slightly longer than Slightlylonger than broad broad Calyx diameter 4.9 5.2 (cm) Average weight 23.620.7 (gm) Achene color 5Y 5/6 to 7.5R 3/8 5Y 6/8 to 7.5R 3/8 Achenes per406 364 berry Achene weight 0.48 0.53 (mg) Marketable yield 566 457(gm/plt) Size Medium to large Medium Predominant shape Conical Conicalto wedged Difference in Slight to moderate Moderate shapes betweenprimary and secondary fruit Band without Absent or very narrow Absent orvery narrow achenes Unevenness of Weak Medium to strong surface Evennessof Even Even to slightly uneven color Glossiness Medium to strong Mediumto strong Insertion of achenes Level with to below Above the surface thesurface Insertion of In the basin In the basin to level calyx Attitudeof the Spreading Spreading to reflexed calyx Size of calyx Slightlylarger Slightly larger in relation to fruit diameter Adherence of StrongWeak calyx Firmness of Strong Medium skin Firmness of Firm Firm fleshDistribution of Marginal and central Marginal and central red color ofthe flesh Hollow center Absent or very weak Strong to moderateexpression Flavor Good Fair to good Soluble solids 8.0 7.7 (% brix) Timeof first Early to medium Early to medium flowering Time of first Earlyto medium Early to medium harvesting Harvest period Late September toLate September to mid December mid December Type of bearing EverbearingEverbearing Keeping quality Very good Good

TABLE 3 PLANT CHARACTERISTICS ‘PS-2880’ (U.S. Characteristic ‘VALOR’Plant Pat. No. 15,597) Height (cm) 22.2 26.4 Spread (cm) 35.1 35.8 SizeMedium Medium to large Habit Globose Globose Density Medium Medium VigorMedium Medium to strong

TABLE 4 STOLON CHARACTERISTICS ‘PS-2880’(U.S. Characteristic ‘VALOR’Plant Pat. No. 15,597) Average stolon number 6.1 5.3 per plant from theMedium to few Few fruiting field Anthocyanin coloration 7.5R 4/8 to 5/87.5R 4/6 to 5/6 Anthocyanin intensity Medium to weak Medium Diameter atbract (mm) 3.2 3.3 Medium to thick Medium to thick Pubescence StrongStrong

TABLE 5 FOLIAGE CHARACTERISTICS ‘PS-2880’ (U.S. Plant Characteristic‘VALOR’ Pat. No. 15,597) Foliage: Color of upper 7.5GY 2/4 to 3/4 7.5GY3/4 to 4/4 surface Medium to dark green Light to medium green Color ofunder 5GY 5/4 to 6/4 5GY 5/4 to 6/4 side Light grey green Light greygreen Shape in cross Slightly concave to flat Slightly concave to flatsection Interveinal Medium Medium to strong blistering Glossiness MediumMedium to strong Number of Three Three leaflets Terminal Leaflet: Length(cm) 8.5 10.3 Width (cm) 8.6 8.8 Length/width 0.98 1.18 ratioSerrations/ 20.3 22.9 leaf Size Medium Medium to large Shape of baseObtuse Acute Shape of teeth Obtuse Obtuse Petiole: Length (cm) 14.8 13.9Diameter (mm) 4.1 4.3 Color of petiole 5GY 5/6 to 6/6 5GY 7/6 to 7/8Yellow green Yellow green Petiolule length 14.3 15.3 (mm) Color of 5GY5/6 to 6/6 5GY 7/6 to 7/8 petiolule Yellow green Yellow green PubescenceSparse Moderate Attitude of hairs Slightly outward Slightly outwardStipule: Length (mm) 24.9 26.3 Width (mm) 11.6 9.2 Anthocyanin Weak Weakcoloration 10RP 4/10 to 4/12 7.5RP 5/10 to 5/12 Red purple Red purpleColor of stipule 2.5GY 4/4 to 4/6 2.5GY 4/6 to 5/6 Medium green Mediumto light green

TABLE 6 FRUITING TRUSS CHARACTERISTICS ‘PS-2880’ (U.S. Characteristic‘VALOR’ Plant Pat. No. 15,597) Length (cm) 20.5 27.1 Position relativeLevel with Level with to foliage Pubescence Medium to strong MediumAnthocyanin intensity Very light to none Light 5R 4/8 to 5/8 2.5R 5/6 to6/6 Greyed red Greyed red Attitude at first pick Prostrate Prostrate

TABLE 7 FLOWER CHARACTERISTICS ‘PS-2880’ (U.S. Characteristic ‘VALOR’Plant Pat. No. 15,597) Petal color N 9.5/90.0% R to N 9.5/90.0% R to9.25/84.2% R 9.25/84.2% R White White Sepal color 7.5GY 4/4 to 3/4 7.5GY4/4 to 3/4 Green Green Corolla diameter (mm) 32.5 33.6 Medium to largeMedium to large Calyx diameter (mm) 40.9 34.1 Petal length (mm) 12.513.0 Petal width (mm) 12.7 13.8 Petal length/width ratio 0.99 0.95Petals/flower 5.7 6.5 Sepal length (mm) 15.6 12.3 Sepal width (mm) 6.94.4 Sepal length/width ratio 2.25 2.78 Sepals/flower 11.7 12.3 Size ofcalyx relative to Larger Same size to larger corolla Size of inner calyxSmaller Smaller relative to outer calyx Relative position Touching toover- Overlapping of petals lapping

TABLE 8 PEST AND DISEASE REACTIONS ‘PS-2880’ (U.S. Characteristic‘VALOR’ Plant Pat. No. 15,597) Two spotted spider mite Moderatelysusceptible Moderately susceptible Lygus bug Susceptible SusceptibleFlower thrips Moderately susceptible Moderately susceptible Powderymildew Susceptible Susceptible Botrytis fruit rot Moderately susceptibleModerately susceptible Angular leaf spot Moderately susceptibleSusceptible

1. A new and distinct strawberry plant named ‘VALOR’, as hereindescribed and illustrated by the characteristics set forth above.